Brunette's Style of Play: Enthusiastic, Entertaining, and Fun to Play
Andrew Brunette didn't focus on the Xs and Os when asked about the style of play he hopes to bring to the Nashville Predators.
Incoming General Manager Barry Trotz introduced Andrew Brunette as the new head coach of the Nashville Predators last week. During the press conference, Trotz highlighted the areas he wants to see the team develop as they enter a reset and change in direction.
"It was really important to me to play faster," Trotz shared. "I want to have a team that has a good identity. I want us to be an exciting team. And when I started thinking about all those things, that's Andrew's thinking."
While incoming head coach Andrew Brunette's reputation and resume point to a coach with a focus on offense and special teams, Brunette was careful to explain that his vision for the Predators goes beyond merely talking about the Xs and Os of offense, defense, and special teams.
"We have so many creative offensive players and I think the game is going that way," Brunette said. "I want them to enjoy the game - to be a style of hockey that's enthusiastic, it's entertaining, and it's fun to play."
Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, and Matt Duchene are three veterans who come to mind immediately when thinking about players who probably liked the sound of that. Each brings a unique offensive skill set and plays an important role on the power play, but all three had to sit out the end of the season due to injuries and watch as the Predators made a run for the playoffs. Although the team didn't end up in the postseason, the group remaining on the ice after the trade deadline sell off and veteran injuries could certainly be described as enthusiastic and entertaining.
Young players like Luke Evangelista, Tommy Novak, and Juuso Pärssinen took advantage of the opportunities that opened up for them last season with the Predators. The energy - not just of the team but of the fan base as well - grew despite the tough stretch of trades and injuries. If the Predators can get healthy and continue to tap into late last season's enthusiasm under new head coach Brunette, "entertaining" seems the logical result.
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